Location

Carpool from Denver or Colorado, or fly into Las Vegas, NV or Page, AZ.

For more info Contact

LEADER: Blake Clark and Rosemary Burbank

BEST WAY TO CONTACT LEADER: Please contact leaders for availability and/or wait list at 303-871-0379 or blakerosemary@cs.com

LEADER QUALIFICATIONS: The leaders have led this CMC GC Raft & Hike trip 6 times from 2008 - 2013. They have also led 4 trips to Yellowstone for the CMC. They have been on 26 one-week Grand Canyon backpacking trips.

Details

TRIP DATES: Apr. 26 – May 8, 2014

NUMBER OF DAYS: 13

TRIP OVERVIEW: 12 Day Raft and Hike Trip from Lee's Ferry to river mile 188 at Whitmore Wash on the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. This unique trip to the Grand Canyon offers participants the opportunity to experience this World Heritage Site on a motorized raft for 188 miles through the best of the canyon, departing from the historic Lee’s Ferry and ending with a helicopter ride from Whitmore Wash and a plane flight back to the start. It is especially ideal for those who would like to hike in areas that can be reached only from the river, and those who have always wanted to experience the canyon but who do not wish to make the 7 mile, 4500’ trek in and out. Our outfitter, Hatch River Expeditions, has been guiding river trips through the canyon for over 70 years. We will have 4 guides and 20 participants on two 35’ S-rig boats running 30 hp 4stroke outboard engines (fuel efficient and quiet). Each boat holds 18, so for this trip we will have plenty of room. An average motorized raft trip through the Grand Canyon is for 7 days with short daily hikes. Hatch is adding 5 days to the trip with over 100 possible hikes, depending on the group’s interest and the weather. They offer us daily-guided hikes at different hiking levels, or one may choose to rest in camp. There are several opportunities for point-to-point hikes where we may hike from one drainage to the next and the raft will pick us up later in the day.

TYPE OF ACTIVITY/LEVEL OF ACTIVITY: Rafting, camping, hiking

ACCOMMODATIONS: Night 1: Cliff Dweller's Lodge in Marble Canyon, AZ. All other nights will be spent camping in tents provided by Hatch. A free sleeping kit is available for those who need camp gear--a sleeping bag, pillow, sleeping pad, ground cloth, and waterproof bag.

SKILLS & TRAINING REQUIREMENTS: For maximum enjoyment, a person may wish to participate in several hikes prior to the trip. The hikes will vary in difficulty in the range of our CMC levels B, and C. In general, a couple hiking levels will be available for most days. There is always the option to take the day off and rest in camp. All of our hiking will take place below the altitude of Denver (the river is at about 2,500 feet).

PRE-TRIP ACTIVITIES: Not applicable.

INCLUDED IN TRIP FEE: The trip isALL INCLUSIVEfrom the time we meet the outfitters at Lee's Ferry until we return to our vehicles for the drive home. All flights and tips are included in the cost of this 12 day Grand Canyon adventure. Hatch provides all meals, snacks, eating utensils, life jackets, tents, camp chairs, and the helicopter and plane rides back to the put-in. A free sleeping kit is available for those who need camp gear--a sleeping bag, pillow, sleeping pad, ground cloth, and waterproof bag. The park entrance fee is included. The cost of the trip also includes all tips and one night (double occupancy) at the Cliff Dweller’s Lodge near the put-in on Saturday (4/26/14).